CHRISTMAS ISLAND 12C and 14C AEROGRAMMES
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CHRISTMAS ISLAND 12c AND 14c AEROGRAMMES Ian McMahon The first Christmas Island aerogramme was issued on 17 May 1971 and was of a plain design with the stamp area depicting the value and name of the territory (Christmas Island Indian Ocean) with an orange background. 7,000 were printed by the Note Printing Branch in Australia. As a result of the postal rate increase in 1 October 1971 the aerogramme had to have an additional 2c in postage added and an order was placed for a replacement 12c aerogramme. On 22 October 1971, the Postmaster (R Stone) wrote to the Official Secretary at Government House requesting advice as to the expected arrival date of the new 12c aerogrammes so that he could advertise an issue date for the aerorgramme. He noted that the Post Office had been unable to advertise an issue date for the 10c aerogramme and that many clients had been disappointed at being unable to obtain first day of issue cancellations on the aerogramme as a result. He also suggested that the new aerogramme be advertised in the next newsletter, that the issue date be 5 June 1971 and that the new 53c registered envelope be issued on the same day. His memo also requested that as supplies of the 10c aerogramme might not last until the new aerogramme was issued that the Australian Post Office be requested to return any surplus 10c aerogrammes to Christmas Island. The 12c aerogramme was duly advertised in the Christmas Island Post Office Newsletter of 19 February 1972 with an issue date of 5 June 1972 along with the 54c [sic] Registered Envelope (53c imprinted stamp, sold for 54c). The printed stamp on the registered envelope covered the registration fee and surface postage to Singapore and Malaysia, additional postage needed to be added if the envelope was used to other destinations. The first day postmarker was available for use on both the aerogramme and the registered envelope provided orders were received before the date of issue (it was not the practice at the time to back-date first day cancellations). The newsletter also advised that the 10c aerogramme and the 26c [sic] registered envelope (25c imprinted stamp) would be withdrawn on 4 June 1972. Both the aerogramme and the registered envelope were the same design as the earlier aerogramme and registered envelope, the registered envelope having an embossed portrait of Queen Elizabeth II. Besides being sold at the Christmas Island Post Office, supplies were retained by the Australian Post Office for philatelic sales and some were also sent to the Crown Agents (200 mint and 20 FDC). By 4 September 1972 580 aerorgammes had been sold at the post office and 1,620 through philatelic sales. On 21 February 1973 the Postmaster wrote to the Note Printing Branch advising that supplies of the 12c aerogramme were low and ordering a further 10,000 aerogrammes which were expected to last for two years. The Postmaster requested that the design remain the same. On the same day he also wrote to Harrison and Sons (Harrison) in London who had written to the Post Office on 10 November 1971 advising that they were able to print aerogramme forms with a very simple stamp design or with decorative panels depicting varied facets of the Territory. The Postmaster indicated that Christmas Island had just made an order of additional aerogrammes to the Note Printing Branch due to the low stock levels of the 12c aerogrammes and because he didn’t have an alternative design or quote. While he indicated to Harrison and Sons that he had ordered a supply from the Note Printing Branch and was not at this stage ordering aerogrammes from them, he asked them to prepare some designs and provide a quote for printing approximately 10,000 aerorgammes. Harrison replied on 15 May 1973 with two rough designs for the aerogramme, two rough designs for the stamp and with a quote for £422.75 pounds for producing the finished artwork, three printing plates, paper and for printing 10,000 aerorgammes. Printing would be in three colours, by lithography, punched to shape 317 mm x 240 mm, with tropical gummed flaps on paper described as “S/o 45 G/M2”. Christmas Island was sufficiently impressed by the designs that the order with the Note Printing Branch was immediately cancelled. The cancellation was confirmed by the Department of Territories in a telegram dated on 8 June 1973 indicating that the cancellation was without charge, presumably because the Note Printing Branch had not yet commenced work. On 18 June 1973 the Administrator wrote to Harrison advising that they were impressed with the designs and that he had cancelled the order with the Note Printing Branch. One of the two designs provided by Harrison was based on two Golden Bosun Birds (tropic-birds) in flight with a vertical stamp while the other depicted coconut trees with a horizontal stamp depicting an aircraft. While the administrator (F Evatt) originally favoured the design featuring the bosun birds, the Postmaster was able to persuade him that the other design was preferable as the bosun bird ‘had been over used in the past as a symbol for Christmas Island’. The Administrator wrote to Harrison on 11 July 1973 advising that that Christmas Island had selected the design with the coconut trees and the horizontal stamp design provided a number of changes were made. These included changes to the positions of the instructional markings and the removal of a flower design on the middle fold as well as the use of a darker shade of blue. The letter also requested a copy of the amended design before the work proceeded and asked if an issue date of 4 February 1974 could be achieved. Harrison provided three photo-blocks of the amended design in a letter dated 1 October 1973 along with a sample of a Malaysian aerogramme recently produced by them as an example of the paper and gum to be used. They also advised that they could not guarantee supply of the aerogrammes by the proposed issue date. A cable was duly sent to Harrison accepting the designs but advising that the postage rate needed to be changed to 14c due to a postage rate increase in October 1973. The administrator also asked that the Crown Agents approve the colour proofs before printing commenced and sought advice on when Harrison could guarantee delivery. The Post Office decided that the issue date would be set once they had advice from Harrison as to the date they could guarantee supply of the aerorgammes. Harrison replied on 28 November 1973 with a copy of a proof of the aerogramme which was accepted by the Administration subject to the Crown Agent’s response although one member of the Philatelic Committee commented “I can’t say that I like the red washy sea and the round dome in the background. Could be an oasis in a desert”. Harrison was advised of the acceptance on 28 December 1973 and asked to provide a further six proofs for publicity purposes. The Crown Agents wrote on 11 December 1973 advising that the design should be approved subject to the removal of the red on the wing of the aircraft and requesting 350 mint and 50 aerogrammes cancelled on the first day of issue. This recommendation was accepted by the administrator on 31 December 1973. In a letter dated 2 January 1974 the Administrator confirmed the approval subject to the change suggested by the Crown Agents and asked that 350 aerogrammes be provided directly to the Crown Agents, 3,000 directly to the Australian Philatelic Bureau and 6,650 to the Island. 16 January 1974 Christmas Island issued a news release advising that a 14c aerogramme would be issued as a result of the October 1973 postal rates increase and should be available in 2-3 months. In addition it advised that the 12c aerogramme would be sold with additional 2c stamp until sold out which was expected to occur within the next 4 weeks. In a letter dated 2 January 1974 Harrison confirmed that they had commenced work on printing the aerogrammes. This was followed by a letter dated 25 January 1974 confirming that the aerogrammes would be ready for dispatch by 1 March 1974 and asking whether the aerogrammes should be air freighted or should be sent by sea mail. Given that supplies of the 12c aerogramme were by this time almost exhausted and that the Postmaster was keen to have the new aerorgammes issued as soon as possible, Christmas Island replied requesting that the 3,000 aerogrammes for the Australian Philatelic Bureau be air-freighted to Melbourne and the 6,650 aerogrammes for the Island be air freighted to Singapore to the Australian High Commission with a request for forwarding to Christmas Island 6 February 1974. The issue date was then set at 16 April 1974. The Administrator wrote to the Australian Postmaster General on 7 February 1974 advising of the issue of the new aerogramme, its issue date, that 3,000 aerogrammes would be sent by air freight directly to Melbourne and including a description “ Blue is the overall colour of the aerogramme with black palm trees and a red sunset featured on the front page. The value is printed in stamp form containing a modern aircraft in flight and in the background is a global map.’ The letter also requested that the APO withdraw any stocks of the 12c aerogramme on 16 April 1974, destroy them and provide a certificate of destruction. In addition the 54 cent [sic] registered envelope was also to be withdrawn and any remaining stocks destroyed, noting that no further issues of registered envelopes were to be issued by Christmas Island.